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THE SUN, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1919.
EAST SIDE WISE MEN WHO TREAT SICK BY MEANS OF NUMBERS
8
When Doctors' Remedies Fail Practitioner of Mystic
System Is Called In to Heal Never Seeks
Remuneration for His Services
AMKTHOD of healing the nick
which might bo culled 11 num
ber euro Is practised In certain
parts of the lower Kast Side of
New York. This mathematical system,
of which the healing Is but a small part,
Is as old as the Hebrew Kabala, though
It is little known and understood by but
few.
In and about 1'ltt street, which takes
Its narrow course north from Williams
burg Bridge across Itlvlngton street
and ii little beyond it, arc found those
who give and seek this treatment. Here,
when the doctor's remedies fall, a mail
ia called in who Is wise in the lore of
the Kabala, the Talmud and other old
Hebrew tomes.
One of these so-called wise men,
typical of the practitioners of this mys
tic system, lived for some years In two
little rear rooms in lltt street, eking out
a meagre- livelihood throunh the volun
tary contributions of those he served.
Never, under any circumstances, does
he ask for remuneration for his ser
vices. He is a student, and when not
ministering to those who come to him
".for help, spends his time poring over
strange old volumes written on parch
' meht and bound In heavy hide. Learned
: as he 'Is, he yet has no more than u
'superficial knowledge of English. He
'is astute and for ihe problems brought
him they arc as various as human do
aires and needs he works out what
eem to be satisfactory conclusions, pur
tlal or complete.
Uelng called to minister to the sick,
this man first takes the birth dates of
the person who Is ailing, und as they
cannot be changed he proceeds to tit all
other numbers connected with the pa
tient to them. The numbers repre
sented by the letters of the patient's
name have nothing to do with the num
ber of letters in the name, ns, In the
Kabala system, each letter is aald to
have a numerical vibration. For In
stance, while A is counted as one, 8 is
reckoned as three.
After Brother Yelsky Yelsky Is not
his name, but he Is always addressed or
spoken of as "Brother" has recited cer
tain prayers he directs the patient to put
out of his mind all thought of the faults
or shortcomings of others: to refrain
from judging the conduct of any one:
to practice both In thought and deed
the utmost charity and to pray earn
estly and often. He then proceeds to
alter or completely to change the pa
tient's name so that it may be in ac
cord with his birth dates.
This done, he takes Into account the
number of the house in which the af
flicted one lives. If he finds this inimi
cal when considered In connection with
the birth dates and the name numbers
he has worked out for the patient ho
dlrects that he move to a place where
the numbers are In harmony. The order
In which this is done is in strict no-1
cordance with the tradition of the old I
rabbinical philosophy, which says that
the four important things necessary to
annul all evil destiny are prayer, right
conduct, charity and change of name
and place.
Brother Yelsky asserts that there arc
few If any, however, ill they may be,
who are not helped and that most, are
healed by this old number cure. Per
haps the results claimed may be due
to change of environment; the Inspira
tion of fuith; the letting go of all bit
terness und the establishing of right
thinking. However this may be, It Is
certainly true that Interesting results
are obtained by the use of this old
mathematical system, quite apart from
healing the sick.
It was 1'ythagoras who said: 'Num
bers are the principles of all things, of
the heavenly bodies, their motion and
all sound, and he who understands them
has both knowledge and wisdom." Count
Cagllostro' pretended that through his
knowledge of the old Kabala system
of numbers he was able to win large
sums of money for himself and to assist
others to make similar gains. It Is re
lated that by using this system to de
termine the winning numbers In the
Paris lottery, which on three different
occasions he gave to the Baroness de la
Motte, he enabled her In each Instance
to gain a sum.
While Brother Yelsky does not use
his knowledge of the number system i
In this way, nor as a rule to forecast
events when he Is helping those who1
come to him for healing or to be as-1
slsted over hard p.iies, ho sometimes
makes predictions which arc astonish
ingly fulfilled. One of these was In '
connection with counsel he was giving '
a woman who lives In a fashionable I
part of upper New York. She bad
hc.ird of what he had done for a Pitt
street dweller and sought Brother Yel
sky's help. When he had worked out
this woman's Individual number prob
lem and was explaining what would
most likely be the result of certain
business transactions she was contem
plating he said:
"There is going to be serious finan
cial trouble soon. It is no time to mako
Investments of any kind. In a few
months It will be as dllllcult for deposi
tors to get their money odt of banks as
it was during the Black Friday panic."
This was in January, 1907, und that
spring, ns every one knows, brought
the fulfilment of the forecast. The
person to whom the prediction was
mnde repented it tho same day to u
business friend, nnd he set it down, to
gether with the dates, on the fly leaf
of one of his account books. Often
since ho has referred to It as n triumph
of modern augury.
Not in the least surprised or elated
when tho success of ills divination was
discussed wltii him, Brother Yelsky de
clined to make other predictions, save
Incidentally, as ho had done in tills
case. Ho willingly points out when in
terpreting birth dates and name num
bers certain periods which, as these
numbers indlcute, will be fortunate or
f otherwise, but goes no further.
To gain tho knowledge which enables
this man to calculate minutely what
numbers, according to this system,
mean requires much study und practice.
Still the rudiments of tho system are
readily mustered, and one may soon
learn which numbers uro counted be
neficent and which are said to bo evil.
All that it Is necesswry to know is
what Is set down as tho numeriral
value of each letter of the alphabet,
how tho numbers uro added und what
they mean.
For exumplc, take the name nnd
birth dates of Secretary of Htato Bryan,
'who was born March 19, 1 Sfirt. March
being the third month gives him S, an
extremely fortunate und also mystic
number, according to tho Kabala, which
denotes force, worth und certain innate
wisdom. The number 19 Is counted
one of honor and esteem, und also indi
cates that if there Is a marriage It will
be happy.
As to the year, neither the 18 nor the
fi Is counted u fortunate number. Add
ing them they make 24, which is fairly
TIME MARKS
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"As He walked by the Sea of Galilee He saw Simon and Andrew,
practically the same means as their brothers of 1900 years ago.
fortunate und gives tho aid of people,
of Influence. Adding 4 und 6 In order
to reduce them to a potency, as ull num
bers must be according to this system,
gives 10, which is a number signifying
virility, manly honor and self-confidence,
and also rise and full.
The name, William Jennings llryun,
Is represented by tho number 19, 28 und
11. The first of theso has already been
spoken of. Tho second, lis, is a number
of disaster, opposition and much an
noyance. The third number, 11, Is, ac
cording to the Kabala, of evil indication
and denotes violence und mistukes. The
stun of thesn numbers Is 13, which Is not
counted evil suvo us a house number.
The number 19 In both tho birth date
and name numbers makes u concord.
This not only shows harmony but Indi
cates good fortune. Tho sum of Mr.
llryun's birth dutes nnd namo numbers
is 23. This is not by uny means, ac
cording to this system, a number of
derision, but is culled "Tho royal slur of
the lion," und Is said to bring success,
help from superior und fume. It will
lie seen by those familiar with Mr.
llryun's career und who Is not? that
his numbers as Interpreted by this sys
tem at least suggest tho happenings in
nm nio wan some degree of accuracy
They ulso HUggest that, as to tho future,
Mr. llryun will proceed to lecture, drink
grape Juice und continue a career which
has been unusual and in many ways
successful.
To those who may Ik- Interested In
testing this system of mathematical
divination by working out sketches
similar to tho brief outline given in
connection with Mr. Bryan's birth dates
and name, tho following explanation of
how It may lie done will lie of Interest.
NO CHANGE
It Is held that each letter of tho al
phabet has a distinct numerical vibra
tion, in other words that each letter is
interpreted by a number. Tho follow
ing five letters are eaclt represented by
1: A, I, J, Q und V: thoso counted us 2
lire: II, C, K nnd It: three, letters
counted is 3 ure: O, I. nnd S, V, M
and T huvo the vibration of I; two let
ters each counted ns 6 nre 13 nnd N;
four letters reckoned us G uro U, V, W
und X. Those which represent 7 ure
U and '& und the three remaining letters,
F, II und I', ure each counted as 8.
Not only Is each letter supposed to
represent a number but each number
is said to huvo u meaning singular to
Itself. To understand these fully In
their Intricate Interlocking relations, as
set fortli in the rabbinical system, they
must bo studied long; but the following
brief definitions will enable any one to
work out a sketch which wilt show
fomethlng of the value, or lack of It,
In tho system.
It Is said that 1 Is n sign of unity
und of tho Infinite, nnd that It Is n
number of self-rule, activity nnd good
fortune, Tho number 2 signifies con
tention, trouble and misfortune; 3 is
a mystic number of wisdom, worth and
good fortune representing successful
exertion, harmony and plenty. Ily 4
arc shown endurance, firmness of pur
pose, realisation of hopes and general
good fortune.
Both S nnd 6 are set down as evil
numbers, though It Is explained that
they uro regarded as the necessary cle- i
incuts of nitration through which man
must pus to fit him for u higher slate.
.Still, while 6 Is unfortunate in all else,
it Is said to he an Ideal number In affairs
of the heart, though presaging uncer
tainties in marriage.
The number 7 represents the triumph
ot spirit over matter nnd Is a num
ber of victory, honor and fame; while
u number of power, 8, Is said both to
attract nnd repel; to Indicate, menace,
separation, disruption nnd even distrac
tion, and also triumph. The number 9
IN METHODS OF THESE
his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers." Jews
They use the same small boats, heavily built to stand the fierce and
ls more beneficent, though not always
fortunate. Still, it Is set down as tduml
Ing for mystery, morality, worth, wis
dom and the fruit of merit. As already
spoken of n connection with Secretary
llryan's numlors. It) Is set down us u
number of divinity and also ns one of
power us to material things; Inter
mingled with some futilty, of honor
self-conlldence, virility und success,
Kleven Is culled tho number of sin
nnd penitence; of violence, power, brav
ery and III luck, Twelve is a peculiar
numlter. It denotes material Buffering,
danger, change and sadness, and yet,
by tho ancients, It was esteemed holy
and was named by them: "Oraco and
perfection," since they held that Ihe
highest knowledge comes through such
trying experience as it Indicates.
Thirteen Is a num!cr of change,
though by no means Invariably unfor
tunate. In addition to showing trans
mutation, deception and destruction, It
also presages hoM, fulth nnd rebirth,
nnd in lovo affairs nnd marriage is
expressly fortunate.
Fourteen, 15 and 10 Indicate each
various kinds of evil. Fourteen is a
numlier of constant movement and un
ending combinations, of trial, Indecision
und danger from natural forces. Fif
teen tells of fatality and trouble, though
It does give the gift of eloquence, whllo
Lore of the Kabala
Forecast
16 Indicates catastrophy, weakness and
defeat, unmitigated by a good gift of
any kind.
Of ull numbers 17, it Is claimed, Is
one of the most fortunate. In the old
books It Is called: "The burning star,"
nnd Ih spoken of as n number of Im
mortality, intuition, beauty and hope.
Conversely, IS is u nutnlior of error, had
judgment nnd trouble, whllo 19 gives
assurance of happiness, success, esteem
and honor, j
Twenty is a number of obstacles, fa- '
talltles, Impulses, hindrances nnd at
limes exultation which brings no
fruition. Twenty-one Is a number of
truth, hopes realized ami success, while
22 Is one of bad judgment and calamity.
The name given 23, us has been said,
Is "the royal star of the Hon," and it is
counted in the Kabala iih an assur
ance of good fortune. Twenty-four Is
a fortunate numlier. Twenty-live In
dicates strength gained by expeilence,
while 2t Is u number of struggle, un
fortunnte speculation and disaster.
Authority and power Is the augury
of 27, which Indicates a productive In
tellect, faithful friendships and ultimate
success In most undertakings. Twenty-eight,
which Is n number of mis
fortune, is the last compound number
counted ns a distinct potency, with tho
five following exceptions: Thirty
seven, tho first of these, signifies good
will, success In marriage und most other
things. The next exception, 43, Is a
number of destruction; the next, 51,
Is a military number; 55, the next num
ber regarded as a potency, Indicates
energy and triumph, and 69, tho last
compound number so regarded, is a
number of fortune, honor nnd fame.
Also Used to Make Predictions and to
the Destiny Known By But
Few Students
Just at this time it Is not without
interest to note that the letters in the
name of the recently burned ship Vol
turno, when reduced to an arithmetical
potency according to this system, equal
5, as may be seen by referring to tho
numerical value of the letters set down
above, and that, according to the sig
nificance of numbers, 5 Is most evil.
This recalls the fact that the name
FISHERMEN
fishing in the Sea of Galilee use
sudden gales off this inland sea.
of the ill fated ship Tltunlc Is equiva
lent to 18, a number set down In tho
Kabala us very bad nnd named "The
bloodstained path."
i if somewhat more general interest
is the fact that ono or mare of the
numbers accounted in the Kabala as
beneiiceiit nre found, with almost no
exceptions, in tho names or birth dutes
or both of distinguished men nnd
women, und when these nre not
found tho same number occurs both In
tho birth date nnd in tho name. This
gives a concord, accounted quite as
lucky us the best of numbers In this
curious old system, which apparently
demands credulity that no more heark
ens to reason than astrology, with
which, singularly, Its conclusions are
Invariably In accord.
Yankee Girl and a Mexican
Tarantula
NOT long
turbuh
ugo uurmg a sojourn in
ulent Mexico bandits' hul
lets were often too near me to be
comfortable, but no experience offered
a more prolonged mental torture than
that wherein nn enormous tarantula
and I were forced to spend the night
together at n. little hotel in the city of
Vera Cruz,
, The tarantula is much larger In
Mexico than in Italy. His four pairs of
fuzzy legs, his speckled bulging belly,
his abnormally fat head, armed with
vicious nippers and equipped with
eight eyes arrunged In trunsversc rows,
suffice to All you with a wholesome de
sire to give him the right of way with
out ado.
Owing to the fact that he has an un
welcome habit of leaving his own realm
In the tropical vines und trees to make
sociable little vlsltutlons to the corners
of your bedroom it had always been my
custom to search every nook and
crevice of my sleeping room before re
tiring for the night. Twice had I seen
native laborers, peons, In the agony of
death due to a tarantula bite. .So It was
not' surprising that this creeping thing
headed my list of the many dangers to
bo shunned in this semi-tropical coun
try. I was returning to the States, luiving
descended from Mexico city through
tho mountains to that famous old port
of Vera Cruz. The Ward Une steam
ship did not sail till Thursday; but I
had purposely come down a day earlier
In order f visit the cathedral of the
lllack Christ. This, I had been told, was
one of the three churches in the world
where Christ Is represented by a blick
Imago nnd worshipped by the colored
people, who were apparently pleased to
believe that He was one of their race.
The day had been long, and sedulous
tramping over the hot cobbled streets
of this tropical coast town Induced me
to seek my room at an early hour In
the evening, which Indeed Is the only
safe and proper thing for an unaccom
panied woman In Mexico to do. That
part of the dlllgenclas In which my
room was located was evidently under
going repairs, for a pile of timbers
was Included In the furnishings of my
apartments. .
N'o particular reason occurred to me
why I should Investigate this lumber.
and little realizing that it might shelter
lurking danger I flung my tired head
on the dirty pillow. But as I lay and
philosophized upon the compliment that
the Africans wished to pay to the Saviour
by representing Him as their own, and
felt myself quietly dozing off to sleep.
I suddenly heard a soft little noise.
which one might describe as a cro
between a hum and a hiss.
As a precaution against the many
venomous things that creep and crawl
even In the well beaten paths of Mex
ico I had made n careful study of the
arachnids, to which class the tarantula"
belong. I recognized that soft unos
tentatious warning that announced n
roommate as undesirable as one could
well wish.
Cautiously I stretched out my hand
to .see If by chance there were some
matches on the little stand near my
bed. with tho result that I knocked the
candle upon the floor. This was enouch
for my mettlesome roommate; he had
been personally Insulted by the nols.
md suddenly In the utter darkness, th.v
black stillness which one feels in ..
transe room, I detected a slckonln
dor, the warning of the angry taran
tula.
I strained my ears to detect the soft
characteristic click that the male, th
deadlier of the species, employs ns a
fancy frill to his malicious song. M
blood chilled as I heard his muflled
hum-click, hum-click, hum, appar
ently not three feet away. I held my
breath, Incidentally my nose, and lay
wondering how long it would be ere 1
should feel his big fuzzy feet sneaking
up the side of my neck, or before his
soft woolly body would light upon :
face. It was not at all comforting to
remember that one of a tarantula's ec
centricities Is to find ills way to a point
n ine ceiling directly over the obteit
"f his anger, and then to drop uncere
moniously upon ins victim.
It was the on v time in mv nr.. wimn
l longed for the bliss of Ignorance
Would to heaven 1 had not studied this
hideous horror of the tropics! Hut 1
had and I recalled all too vividly the
hlstoricul account of the tarantula pest
wiilcll in tho Middle Ages befell the
town of Taranto, whence the spider de
rives his name. Moreover I had seen
the awful effects of his worse than
fatal bite, whose work of destruction
was mercilessly long drawn out. if
tho bitu of a male tarantula infects a
large artery, It throws the victim into
n dreadful state of crazed nerves.
The Incipient stages of the poisoning
are accompanied by accentuated mvkin.
chollla, followed by a shattering of the
mentality. On gradually absorbing the
venom, tlio untortunate subject tools
and raves in a mad whirl until h
swoons from pure exhaustion. The taran
tella, tho gruceful Italian dance so often
described in musical literature, derives
its name from tills hideous poisoning.
All tins and more darted through my
mind ns I lay there in the darkness
wondering if I loo were doomed to die
llko a dervish. As the night wore on
the buzzing grew less sedulous. Now
and then 1 dropped into troubled dreams
millions of soft spider feet tickled my
face nnd billions of spider eyes ogled
me, while my inslgnlilcant two blinked
hopelessly,
1 lay motionless dining the thousand
years till dawn, which came at last, a
divinely soft, blue, shimmering shaft of
light, trembling uncertain against tho
darkness till tho opal shades of the
morning sun made things faintly visible.
Cautiously I drew myself up to a
sitting posturo and craned my neck In
it searching survey about my chamber
of horrors.
There, in torture worse than mine.
1 hung my roommate, four of hi lews
pinioned beneath the timbers. There ho
sprawled, a maimed hut angry prisoner
Ills eight eyes winked me n militant
"Good morning," and I forthwith re.
turned the compliment with the slender
shaft of my hatpin.